Asphalt shingles is a type of roof that uses asphalt. It became famous during 1900s mostly in North America because of its inexpensive and it is very simple to install. Until now, Asphalt shingles roofs are still widely use all over the world because it is known for its long life span that varies from 20 – 50 years because of its high quality materials and architectural elements for designing the shingles which makes it more durable and longer the life span of the roof.

Aside from its durability and long life span, asphalt shingles roof, it is also easy to install, more likely, one of the easiest roofing materials to install. It can even be installed to those existing shingles as long as the roof deck is still durable and if there is only one layer of shingles that exists.

Asphalt shingles roof is not that costly. It is even one of the economically viable options in roofing. And there are lots of options that you can choose in terms of its colors and styles of asphalt shingles based on what you want and besides from that, asphalt shingles can also help reduce heat absorption especially during hot seasons.

Most Common Damage of Asphalt Shingles Roof

Although, asphalt shingles roofs are well known for its durability, some catastrophes cannot be avoided like storms, hail storms (especially if it is more receptive to hail damage with age) and wind damage which can commonly damage the shingles. It things will occur, contact a professional roofing anchorage to fix it for you, but there are some steps that you can do without a help of a professional roofers.

These are some common steps to do when you’re going to repair your missing or broken shingles on your roof:

1.) Separate the tabs of overlapping shingles 2 rows above and 1 – 2 shingles to the left and right using a flat bar so you can completely remove the damaged shingle.

2.) Look closely to the nails the hold down the damaged shingle.

3.) You are going to remove the shingle using the flat bar and replace it with a new one with the same color of the other shingles. Most roof manufacturers have the similar copies of the colors of your shingles, so you are good to go as long as it has the same size to the other shingles.

4.) Replace all the damaged shingles with the new ones and start placing it down by nailing those new shingles with at least 4 galvanized roofing nails. But it is much better if you will use six nails per shingle.

5.) Nail all the overlapping shingles above on both sides.

6.) You’re good to go.

There are other damages which are much harder to repair, for example, dozens of sheets has been damage, and if that happens, you can’t do it on your own except if you are a professional roofer and you do have an experience on repairing a roof, so it is better to contact professional roofers regarding that to matter. This will prevent from having future damages caused by improper installation or repairs and poor workmanships.

Metal Roofing is one of the most common roofing used in various constructional applications, from residential and even to industrial. Its advantages among other roofing systems make it popular. It is cost efficient, environment friendly, and fire resistant. And it has lightweight with higher quality material, excellent weather performance, has various option for stylish appearances, and has protective coating options.

It lasts with a lifespan average of 20 to 30 years and even lasts up to 60 years. Despite its long lifespan and additional protective options, damages are inevitable and should be expected. It might be because of improper installations and poor workmanship, indentations caused by footfall, strong winds, hail stones when large enough, and other objects that might hit the roof like tree branches during storms.

Some of repairs are doable by you. The most common damage is holes caused by rusts, falling debris, etc. It is important to check your roof regularly to prevent interior building damage or call aksteelking.com, one of the best roofing contractors Anchorage has. So, here are the steps on patching holes:

First Step: Clear the Affected Area

Clear off the dirt on the affected area and then scuff it off using a wire brush and remove the sanding. Scuffing the area to be patched helps the sealant have stronger bonding effect. Avoid scuffing area aside from the area to be patched; it may remove protective coatings of the roof.

Second Step: Making the Patch

Make sure to use metal sheet that matches the one that is used in the roof. In making the patch, it should be cut at least two inches past the damaged roof area. Then cut off the sharp corners and cut to fit size. After that, place the patch on the hole and use pencil to mark or outline the area to be patched to check if it overlaps the leading edges of the hole by at least two inches. If not, then make another metal patch or cut off the current patch to fit.

Third Step: Apply the Patch

Spread the sealant on the area outlined by the pencil. Put a generous amount of sealant where the sealant should oozes out when the patch is applied. This is to prevent creating gaps where moistures can penetrate. Apply the patch and press into place.

Fourth Step: Securing the Patch

Secure the patch using pan-head sheet metal screws. The screws should be three to four inches apart from each other, and about one inch from the edge of the patch. Fix the sealants from the edges of the patch to ensure that moisture will be prevented from forming.

Fifth and Last Step: Color the Patch

After drying the sealant, you can apply paint matching the color of your metal roof to hide the repair or the patch. Make sure that the paint you will use can be applied to the sealant.

In doing the repair, make sure to have complete equipment needed. Be careful in walking on the metal roof avoiding making dents on it. Contacting the local roof repair team/contractors might be your best interest for best workmanship to prevent further damages when making repairs thus saving you money.

Although wood shingle’s biggest drawback is their tendency to catch fire compared to other roofing materials, it’s no denying that one time or two, you have dreamed of a house with a natural appearance or considered it at the very least. Aside being the most environment-friendly among others, it is energy efficient, durable and can last 15 to 40 years depending on the climate and weather exposure.

Wood shingles instalments process might be difficult thus having a professional roofing contractor is always better to prevent future damages caused by poor workmanship. Applying preventive measures is suggested as well to keep the roof from termites and molds.

Some of damages of wood shingles can be easily fixed depending on the degree of the damage. Molds can be just power wash off; some damages can be just resealed. You can just nail down a shingle that has lifted from the roof and then sealing the nailheads with sealants or roofing cement. A split shingle can be repaired by nailing them to the roof deck, closing the gap between the two splits and then sealing them with roofing cement.

But sometimes, warped, cracked, or broken shingles must be replaced. Know how to replace shingles through three major steps: (1) Removing the Damaged Shingles, (2) Preparing the Replacement Shingles, and (3) Installation of the New Shingles.

Removing the Damaged Shingles

After identifying the damaged shingles, remove them using a hammer and chisel. You can also remove the shingles using a hacksaw to cut the nails underneath the shingle. Using a shingle ripper is another option.

Preparing the Replacement Shingles

In cutting the new shingle into fit, it should be half inch narrower than the space thus having a quarter inch allowance on each side of the replacement shingle for expansion when moisture changes, otherwise, it may warped or crack.

Installation of the New Shingles

Slide the new shingle under the shingle above, stopping after the butt of the new shingle be about ¾ inch longer than the other shingles adjacent to it. Always remember to have a quarter inch allowance from the neighboring shingles. After positioning the new shingle, drive two nails just right below the butt of the shingle above of it. Angle the nail angled upwards but do not fasten the nail tightly. Shingles should be hung and instead of fastened. Then, place a wood block at the butt of the new shingle to drive it with a hammer until levelled with the adjacent shingles. The woodblock prevents having hammer marks and evening the impact of the hammer.

Sometimes, a shingle repair might fail, or there is a splitting shingles that need immediate attention. You can have a temporary treatment. Shingles that splits along their length can be treated using an aluminium sheet about two inches wide and longer than the shingle’s split area. Insert the aluminium sheet beneath the spitted shingles. This will prevent water from flowing inside the house temporarily. Replace the shingle as soon as possible with the steps given above.

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